New Missionaries & Ecuadorian Traditions

New Missionaries:
This past week we welcomed 13 new missionaries to the Ecuador Quito Mission.  The missionaries arrived on Monday morning and went straight from the airport to the Colon Chapel.  At the chapel, they received  instructions on mission policies, health guidelines, financial practices, etc.   While instructional training is taking place, each missionary is individually interviewed by President Barlow, the mission president.

After the interviews are over and the preliminary instructions are complete, it's time for the new missionaries to be paired with their trainer/companion.  This is the best part of the day.  The president invites each trainer missionary to the front of the room.  He then shares his feelings about the missionary and invites those in attendance to share their feelings about the trainer missionary.  After that, the president announces the new companionship and then the new missionary comes to the front of the room and formally meets his/her training companion.  It sounds so simple, but the Spirit is presence and the room is filled with unity and love!

Following the pairing of companionships, lunch is served and the new companionships have a chance to get to know each other better.  When lunch is over additional training takes place, luggage is collected, and the missionaries are off to their assigned sectors to work.

We are especially grateful for the new missionaries that arrived this transfer, six of whom are from the United States.  The week before their arrival, they had all been reassigned to other missions because of the violence associated with the transportation strike in Ecuador.  When the strike was resolved, it not only put our missionaries back to work, but it allowed the incoming missionaries to arrive as planned.

Ecuadorian Traditions:
This week the Ecuadorians celebrate "All Souls Day" or "Day of the Dead."  For some reason, I thought this holiday was the equivalent of our Halloween.  The truth of the matter is that it is more like our Memorial Day. "It is an occasion for remembering and celebrating those who have passed on from this world, while at the same time portraying death in a more positive light, as a natural part of the human experience."   (See https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/day-of-the-dead)

Elder Lewis and I were invited to join the Guerrero Family on Sunday afternoon for dinner and then again on Monday evening for Family Home Evening and to celebrate "Day of the Dead." The celebration included making the traditional drink of Colada Morada, and then drinking it with t'anta wawa.   T'anta wawa are bread rolls with a sweet filling that are shaped and decorated like a doll wrapped in a blanket. They are meant to represent the deceased.  

It was a fun evening and I've included a link to a recipe for Colada Morada that is very similar to the one we helped to make - Colada Morada Recipe.  Hint: You can use cornstarch instead of purple or black corn flour.

We were most impressed with the intent of the holiday - "to remember and celebrate those who have passed from this world, . . . while at the same time portraying death in a more positive light, as a natural part of the human experience."

The doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches of our eternal existence.  Our spirit bodies were created by heavenly parents and existed in a pre-mortal state before we came to earth to receive a physical body.  At death, our spirit bodies leave our physical bodies and return to a state of happiness or a state of misery depending on how we exercised our agency - choosing good or evil in mortality. We remain in that condition until our bodies and spirits are reunited or resurrected through the power of Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice. Following the resurrection, we will each have the opportunity to stand before our Savior and Redeemer and give an accounting of our lives.  We will then live eternally in a kingdom or realm that we are worthy of and that we are most comfortable in.

How grateful we are to know that life continues beyond the grave, and that we can be sealed together eternally as families, through the ordinances and covenants found in God's holy temples.

Speaking of temples, construction continues on the Quito Temple. Below is a rendering of the future Quito Temple that will bring great blessings to the saints in this area.  Currently, the closest temple is 8+ hours away in Guayaquil, Ecuador.   The Quito Temple is projected to be completed in 2022.  A return trip to Ecuador in 2022 sounds like a great idea!

Protest to Peace

Last Sunday night, October 13, around 11 PM the noise outside our apartment and in the central area of Quito escalated, it began to sound more celebratory than contentious.  Exploding fireworks accompanied the booming of tear gas guns, cars started honking, people began banging pots and pans, and the yelling turned too cheering.  Apparently, the government and the protestors agreed to talk; thus ending the confusion and contention that had been ongoing for 8+ days.

We woke up Monday morning to the familiar sounds of city life in Quito.  Our walk to the mission office confirmed that things were returning to normal.  Taxis and buses were running, businesses were opened, and the sidewalks were bustling with people.  We felt grateful that the unrest was over and that missionary work could continue once again.

When we arrived at the office, the office Elders and Assistants to the President were pleased to be out of their apartments and back to work.  Our excitement lasted for about 15 minutes and then a call came from President Barlow.  The Area Presidency requested that all missionaries remain inside for one more day, allowing another 24 hours for the aftermath of the protests to settle.

Monday afternoon we walked to the SuperMaxi to pick up a few groceries.  We recognized the wisdom in having the missionaries remain inside for another day.  There were pockets of protestors still lingering on the streets. Most appear harmless, but there were a few groups that had been drinking a lot!  Need I say more......

On Tuesday morning, the 30+ relocated missionaries returned to their sectors, and all missionaries had permission to leave their apartments and resume their work.  It was a happy day throughout the mission!

You may be wondering what the outcome of the transportation strike was.  We understand that they are still negotiating a final resolution.  In the meantime, the government has agree to leave on the fuel subsidies.  It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

After a short season of unrest, one begins to appreciate things like a busy street, crowded sidewalks, air that doesn't smell like burning rubber, the freedom to come and go, opened businesses, an accessible taxi or bus, and a knowledge that tomorrow might just be very much like today.

We hope your today was great and that your tomorrow will be the same!

With love from Ecuador!
Elder & Sister Lewis

Missionary Works Stalls as Strike Becomes Uprising!

Missionary work in Ecuador came to a standstill this past week as the transportation strike morphed into an uprising of Ecuador's indigenous population.  Young missionaries have been counseled to stay inside and away from the protesting and contention.  The sights, sounds, and smell of the uprising are ongoing and proof positive that unrest continues.

As the uprising moved into its 7th day, conditions became more severe.  Black clouds of exhaust billowed up from tire bonfires ignited in the middle of major intersections.  Tear gas guns boom every few minutes causing the smokey gray particulate to accumulate and dissipate; leaving you with a burning sensation in your eyes, nose, and throat.  Police and emergency sirens blare day and night.

Tires burning at the intersection two blocks from our apartment.

Tires burning in the sunset near the SuperMaxi store we shop at.

The indigenous people are gathering from all over Ecuador.  Some come on foot carrying their food supplies and sticks. Others, are crammed into the back of trucks or pickup beds, wearing protective face masks, holding sticks, and waving the Ecuadorian flag as they shout and yell.  It sounds crazy and it is.  Yet, in spite of all the turmoil we feel safe and secure.  The question in our minds is, "How much longer will this last before it is resolved and peace returns?"

Protestors gathering at our intersection.

The latest development occurred yesterday when the government declared a militarized zone and ordered everyone off the streets by 3 PM.  If you were on the streets after 3 PM you could be arrested.  We didn't take any chances.  Below is a photo of Red Cross workers mobilizing at our intersection shortly before the 3 PM curfew went into effect.

A view from our apartment window of the Red Cross mobilizing.

Violence and looting escalated on Tuesday, October 8th, in the Chillogallo and Turubamba zones.  As a result, thirty missionaries were removed from their sectors and relocated to our area.  We now have a total of fifteen sister missionaries in the apartment upstairs and nineteen Elders in the Office Elder's apartment nearby.

We think the missionaries are doing extremely well, considering their isolated and cramped living arrangements. They have permission to go out for food in the early morning..... if it is safe.  Otherwise, they are to stay inside.  We have given the sisters a key to our apartment so that they can come and go while we are at the office for a few hours each day.  My laptop is available for them to use to contact their families, watch conference or Book of Mormon videos, work on My Plan, or whatever else falls within mission guidelines.

Residents in our apartment complex met last night to discuss a security & safety plan, garbage disposal, and water usage.   The safety meeting gave us the opportunity to meet our neighbors.  We were impressed with the general concern for one another's safety, the organization of the meeting, and the discussion that ensued.

Our mission had forty baptism scheduled for this weekend.  All forty baptisms were postponed until further notice.  Church services for our faith were cancelled throughout Ecuador.

Today, with permission from President Barlow, Ecuador Quito Mission President, we held a sacrament service in our apartment for the sisters and us.  It was a sweet experience as we prayed, sang hymns, partook of the sacrament, and shared testimonies.  We felt strengthened as we renewed our covenants together under the comforting influence of the Spirit.

Preparing for sacrament meeting in our apartment.

We gathered in our apartment again this evening to celebrated Hermana Fernandez's birthday.  We enjoyed cake, ice cream, games, singing, and prayer.  It has been a good day and we are grateful for the choice opportunity to associate with the fifteen amazing sister missionaries who are weathering unrest and violence with us.

We don't know what tomorrow will bring, but right now Elder Lewis and I are planning to go to the office for a few hours.  With missionary work at a standstill we don't have a lot to do, but we are expecting some of the nineteen Elders who were relocated to our area, to stop in and use the office computers to contact their families.

Please know that your prayers for missionaries - general and specific, are felt and appreciated. 

Love to all!
Elder & Sister Lewis

Transportation "Stroke" in Ecuador

My apologies if I misled anyone with our post last week.  When I referred to "getting robbed" I was referencing the multiple incidents of missionaries getting robbed.  We personally have NOT been robbed, but we do feel the effects of robberies in the mission office.  Last month, more missionaries were robbed than usual.  Sorry for the confusion.

Well.... I don't think we have been robbed! This morning I pulled out my purse and discovered a huge slit in my Coach messenger bag (see below).  I haven't used my purse since last week and I have NO idea where the slit came from.  Nothing was taken, but now I'm suspicion that maybe on a crowded bus someone attempted to rob me.  The slit goes through the leather and the lining.  It's a mystery.  If anyone has an idea of what might have happened, please let me know.  Your criminal instincts would
be appreciated😉.......

Perhaps you've been watching international news and saw that there is a transportation strike in Ecuador.  It came as a surprise to us on Thursday morning.  When I woke up and started my morning routine of exercising I thought I heard people yelling and chanting.  It was short, but noticeable.  This thought went through my mind, "It sounds like a riot."  I listen for a few more minutes, but I didn't hear anything more that caused alarm.

We walked to the mission office at our usual time of 9:45 AM and noticed there was no bus or taxi traffic, and fewer people on the streets.  It was quiet and I thought maybe we'd missed a national or city holiday.  A holiday would explain both the yelling and chanting heard earlier and the lack of traffic.

When we arrived at the office I was planning to teach a 10 AM piano lesson to a new student.  We had decided on Tuesday to have the lesson at the office building on Thursday using the rarely played, but very nice upright Yamaha piano on the 6th floor.  However, my piano student didn't show up.  I texted her, but didn't hear anything.  About an hour later I received a call from a young friend named Eduarda.  We were scheduled to meet at the Colon chapel that evening for her verbal English test.  She had asked me to be her speaking companion for the exam.  Eduarda called to cancel because of the "bad things that were happening in the city."  She didn't have enough Spanish vocabulary to explain what those "bad things" were.

At the time of Eduarda's call, I was working at the computer/printer on the 3rd floor.  I decided to find out what was happening and ventured into Brother Canar's office.  Brother Canar is the Church's legal representative and coordinator for Ecuador.  I asked him about the "bad things that were happening in the city."  Brother Canar speaks good English and he told me there was a "stroke" going on because the government had lifted fuel subsidies.  The "stroke" (strike) was nationwide.

Ahhhh......that explained the chanting I'd heard early in the morning, the lack of bus and taxi traffic,  the quiet streets, my missing piano student, and the cancellation of the English exam with Eduarda.  When the buses and taxis are on strike, Quito quickly comes to a standstill because the majority of people use public transportation.  And YES that includes the missionaries!

Our work on Thursday continued, but by Friday morning we started to feel some of the affects of the transportation strike.  The Zone Conference for our zone was cancelled. Missionaries were counseled to stay inside their apartments and only go out for the basics provided there was no rioting or violence in their sectors. The Assistants to the President were stranded in Riobamba and 10 other missionaries were stranded in Puyo.

Arrangements were made for the stranded missionaries and we all just hunkered down for the weekend.  It was nice for us to have General Conference to listen to.  Not all the missionaries were that fortunate.

We did see a lot of police milling around the streets and after lunch on Friday, as we walked back to the mission office, we actually saw an Ecuadorian Power Ranger; he was clad in protective gear from head to toe!  I'm not sure who he represented, but he was walking the streets and his mere presence made you feel more safe.

We thoroughly enjoyed the wonderful spirit of General Conference and sincerely appreciated the counsel that was shared.  I especially enjoyed the Women's session.  The 3 Latino sister missionaries that live in our apartment complex came to watch the session with me.  We obviously have some language barriers, but the Spirit was strong and by the end of the session, we were all weeping together.  We celebrated our bond of sisterhood with ice cream and chocolate chip cookies following the broadcast.

The bus and taxi unions supposedly ended the strike over the weekend.  However, things were still slow at the office today and missionaries were told to stay inside until further notice.  Apparently, the indigenous people of Ecuador are NOT ready for the strike to end.  What we are seeing and feeling inside the city is "quiet."  We understand that outside the city, it is a little different.  For example, yesterday the AP's (Assistants to the President) made their way back to Quito from Riobamba.  To travel from Quito to Riobamba is normally 3 hours by bus.  It took Elders Flint and Pinto 10 hours to return.  They had a driver who was willing to take back roads.  Along the way they ran into road blocks set up by indigenous groups and either had to turn around and take another route or pay to go through the road blocks.   We were glad to have them back.

The zone leaders from Colon (our zone) came to the office this morning with a collection of tear gas cans that they had found outside their apartment complex.  Memorabilia to share with the other missionaries.

This morning President Barlow spoke with security in Salt Lake.  The current plan is for us to sit tight and wait.  We did hear that the US Embassy is going to evacuate families affiliated with the Embassy, but that has not been confirmed.   The strike could end tomorrow or continue for a few more weeks.  Time will tell....

Last week, Elder Lewis and I participated in the Turubamba Zone Conference with President and Sister Barlow.  We were planning to do the same on Friday at the Colon Zone Conference, but that was cancelled; and we will not be attending the Riobamba Zone Conference with President Barlow this week.  It too has been cancelled.  We hope by next week the strike is over so we can travel with President to the Santo Domingo Zone Conference.

We send our love to all!  Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.